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Design 101
Stylish Ideas for Your Foyer
October 17, 2024
Walking into your home should fill you with peace. This is where you can relax and do whatever brings you the most joy. If it doesn’t feel restful or look tidy, maybe it’s time for an entryway foyer upgrade. Foyer ideas can create happiness in your home in no time.
What Is a Foyer?
A foyer is the part of the home you see when you first step inside. Sometimes, it’s a medium-sized room with shelves and hooks for outdoor gear. Other times, it’s a small room or landing area that connects to a short hallway.
Without the right foyer design, this space can turn outdoor chaos into, well, indoor chaos. Change clutter into tranquility with these foyer ideas.
Combine Foyer & Laundry Room
If you have enough space in your foyer, turn it into a clean-up station. You can install your washer and dryer alongside a deep sink and counter. This way, dirty clothes and muddy sneakers stay put and won’t track messes all over the house.
A counter can serve many purposes, from giving you a place to set your latest backyard garden haul to acting as a clean surface for folding laundry. Laundry room ideas transform dirty into clean and bring renewed calm to your home.
Transform Your Foyer Into a Mudroom
Mudrooms don’t need to be a separate room. With a few tweaks, you can give your foyer a new purpose.
Does this area have a closet? Remove the doors and turn that space into a sleek mini mudroom. You can add hooks for coats and umbrellas and set out storage bins for sneakers and backyard toys.
If your foyer isn’t too narrow, use that wall space to your advantage. Add custom or pre-built cabinetry with plenty of cubby nooks and storage space.
Or, add a cozy padded bench with storage drawers and install coat hooks above. Decorative features like an antique mirror or small floating shelf can bring the look together.
Pet-Focused Foyer
Pets are cherished family members, so why shouldn’t they get a separate room? When you turn part — or all — of your foyer into a pet paradise, you won’t be the only one excited to get home.
Cabinetry can feature storage bins for toys and pet treats, along with wall hooks for leashes and dog coats. To turn the foyer into a pet grooming station, install a wide basin with a hand shower and open shelving nearby. Folding stairs can also help pets climb up.
You can even turn lower cabinetry into hidden litter box stations. A fun cat-shaped cutout or door can lead inside and keep messes contained.
Foyer Design Styles
Need inspiration for your foyer project? Here are five gorgeous styles to consider.
Coastal
Coastal styles have waterfront tranquility and use natural materials like wicker, jute, sisal, and rattan. They also use driftwood, glass, and casual fabrics like linen. The style ranges from beachy to sophisticated, but tends to incorporate softer shades of blue, green, and cream.
Modern
Modern designs turn to sleek lines and simple color palettes. You won’t find dark, imposing cabinets in this style. Instead, plenty of low-profile furniture has straight edges and narrow legs. Colors tend to be neutral.
Boho
Boho brings freedom of movement and plenty of gentle curves. The design style uses mixed materials, such as wood, metal, leather, and wicker, to create a casual setting that invites you to stay a while. Vintage pieces and mixed colors — patterns and earthy hues — bring relaxation.
Farmhouse
Farmhouse style is all about simple beauty and practicality. It uses plenty of rough-hewn woods, whitewashed colors, and functional yet decorative elements. Wooden beams, pottery, and homespun fabrics are common.
Traditional
The traditional style uses warm, neutral colors and curved or ornate furniture detailing. You’ll likely see architectural features like wainscoting, crown molding, wallpaper, and floral motifs.
Foyer Design Ideas
It’s time to upgrade or create your foyer. Here are six ways to maximize this space and bring mudroom storage ideas to fruition.
Add a Memo Board or Chalkboard
Days can get busy, and important tasks don’t always stay top of mind. With a handy memo or chalkboard, you can add visual reminders of what you and your family need to do.
Keep within the color palette, or make it pop with a bold frame or background.
Paint the Back of Your Door
Front doors often get painted in cheery colors. But what about the back of the door? This side is often part of the interior decor, intended to blend with the background. Break that habit by painting the back of your door. Using a color from your foyer palette also bring cohesion.
Add Different Flooring
Have you ever wanted to accent one part of your flooring? Now you can! Using different materials — whether stone slabs, patterned tiles, or herringbone parquet flooring — you can upgrade the look or create the illusion of more space.
Incorporate Shelving or Cabinets
Foyers and shelving go hand in hand. Adding the right amount of shelving or cabinets gives you even more space to store gear away. You could pick upper and lower cabinets or use one type along with storage bins. Cubby nooks also serve as the perfect place for hideaway baskets.
Add Hanging Hooks
Solitary or pegboard hooks are an essential part of foyer organization. They keep coats and gear off the floor — and act as attractive focal points of their own. Plus, you can install hooks in more than one location to double or triple your wall storage.
Hide Open Storage with a Curtain
Open storage can brighten a dark foyer or entryway. But sometimes, you like to hide your storage areas for a cleaner look. Curtains are an inexpensive solution. Attach curtain brackets above the storage, and slip the rod through the curtain’s metal grommets. In no time, your storage area disappears.
Small Foyer Ideas
Are you upgrading a small foyer? Here are three solutions to maximize your space.
Storage Bench
Your search for space can begin and end with foyer bench ideas. A bench serves many purposes, from a place to sit while removing shoes to a handy cabinet storage solution. You could add below-seat wicker bins to store pet leashes, gloves, and other frequently used items.
Utilize Wall Space
It’s often best to look up when space is at a premium. Wall storage lets you keep your small foyer tidy without adding clutter. To use wall space, install hooks at different heights and a row of shelving. You could use open shelves or cubby shelving to keep items contained.
Decorate with Mirrors
Mirrors are an instant brightener. Even in a dark foyer or entryway, you can use mirrors to bounce off natural light and bring cheer. High-gloss paint coupled with mirrors adds even more illumination.
Help Your Foyer Bring Out the Welcome Mat
Foyers should welcome you home, but they’re not always designed for modern conveniences. To make the space meet your needs, add the above foyer features to help it serve a second purpose. With a few upgrades, you’ll have a foyer you can’t wait to show off.
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